In reading comments and interviews from women authors, I have been fascinated to learn about the things that compel them to write. I think these words from Joan Didion explain with great enthusiasm the need we all have to put our creative side to work. It is all about the WHAT.
There is a commitment we make, an unspoken contract with ourselves and our ideas, when we put our efforts towards making, building or writing something. That commitment urges us to do our best, bring our best, get over our fears and share what we have within us so the rest of the world can be inspired by our efforts. There may not be an obligation to create; however, what we create is the gift we choose to give to the world. I once asked a very creative friend of mine if there was enough art in the world. “Do we REALLY need to make more art?” She smiled a really big smile and said, “I believe there can never be enough art in the world!” Fabulous answer! And I have to agree with her.
If every person on earth wrote their story, there would still be more stories to tell. If every artist created one piece of work for everyone to see, there would still be a magnanimous amount of art yet to be completed. And the other side of those sentences is that if no one wrote anymore nor any artist created anymore work, the world would be a worse place for it. No matter how you feel about presenting your work to the world, the process of you creating brings you life, joy, peace, process AND makes you a better person. And we can always use more people in this world who are getting better every single day. A using tide raises all ships…so creative people grant freedom to everyone to create and make their own world better.
When you create – whatever it is you create – what compels you to do it? Does it bring freedom, creativity, joy, peace, imagination, closure? Do you have a sense of mission, passion, responsibility, or even obligation? What drives you to do what you do? And how do you feel when you do not create? What talent, skill or gift are you robbing the world of if you choose to refrain from sharing your ideas? What opinion does not get expressed when you stay still? How are you as a person less when you let your talents stay dormant? Let me encourage you to have the courage and energy to create…find your WHAT and let it run wild. For as any creative person knows, it is all about the WHAT!
Ann Art Gallery Blog 